My PUP is now stored for the winter

[dabubba]

First it started in my driveway, I'd parked the PUP next to the house in a 2 car wide driveway, in front but off to the side of the garage.  I'd then have to pull the van right beside the PUP to get it in the garage(almost brushing the awning with the mirror.  So I did what I had to and bought one of those portable shelters and carefully measured out the spot (13 x 20) where the 10 x 20 shelter would go.  Now they say those are an assembly job for two people, it can be done with one person in the rain, in the dark with a light over 2 nights.

Then I towed the PUP down the back alley, and brought it into my yard through the hole created by removing 2 8 foot fence panels.  Once in my backyard, I had to negotiate a firepit, drain, apple tree and children's play structure.
Once it was around 20 feet from its spot, I unhooked and left it there.  I got up this morning to move it and pushed by hand onto some plywood to make it easier to move around.  Getting it out of the 3 inch ruts the wheels had sunk into the grass by was interesting!  It seems to work better to "twist" rather than "push" when facing large hills. 

Once the trailer was lined up with the shelter, I got to work, laying longer 2 x 8 pieces down and a 3 x 12 that I had sitting around so the wheels would not settle into my grass.  It was not very difficult to put the wheel up onto the 2 x 8 as I had the plywood overlap it and just pushed it back onto it.  The 3 x 12 was something else as the plywood flexed an incredible amount, even with a 2 x 6 in between as a semi-riser block.  Pushing the trailer up onto the wood planks by hand was not easy, but now it is out of the snow, wind, rain, leaves and the tires wont freeze into the ground.  I'd rate the effort to get the trailer onto the planks as a 14 out of a 10, but it is possible to do it by hand.  The trailer weighs in at 1500 pounds or so.  Definately not recommended but when the spot is too tight to back into with the TV, it was the only way to go.  A trailer dolly may be in my near future, lifting up the tongue and pushing at the same time is not that easy for a tongue weight that is about the same weight as yourself!

On the plus side the shelter is big enough to fit my patio table , chairs, wagon, bike trailer, a couple of bikes, snowblower and a few other yard items.

[92_Flagstaff]

Congrats on your mission... I think.  Only problem with overcoming such a difficult storage challenge is that it will be just as difficult in the spring to get it ready again (which may demotivate you to do so).  I feel for you though, as I have to dismantle my small boat trailer to get it in the backyard.  Pain in the butt to say the least.

Only thing that could have improved your story was a time lapse video of you trying to pull the trailer into position  ... lol

[Horseshoot]

Mine is stored for the winter, as well.  However, the good news is, I stripped it of it's canvas prior to putting it away.  The canvas is en route to Bear Creek Canvas, to be used for the pattern for our new canvas!  It will be like having a new popup next spring!  :)

Mike

[Unstable Tripod]

It sounds like a trailer dolly might be a very good idea for that situation.

[toaobigal]

I guess I have it a bit easier: I park my trailer in the garage. My garage is 24x24 and the door is on the left side and I park the trailer on the right side (so I can park or fix a car when I want to) so, the hard part is to get the trailer in it's place. I have to go back and forth in a w pattern, pushing it. It takes me about half an hour to park it for the winter, cover it and install the trickle charger for the battery.

[dabubba]

I guess I have it a bit easier: I park my trailer in the garage. My garage is 24x24 and the door is on the left side and I park the trailer on the right side (so I can park or fix a car when I want to) so, the hard part is to get the trailer in it's place. I have to go back and forth in a w pattern, pushing it. It takes me about half an hour to park it for the winter, cover it and install the trickle charger for the battery.

If only I had a double car garage!  My garage is not much bigger (a foot or two on each side) than my 10x20 shelter.  It is a lot of work to zig zag park it.  I did that before in our driveway to get it close enough to the house.
Honestly, I think I'll pull it out for the May long weekend or a week or 2 before and bring it back to my driveway.  For the summer if I want it covered, I'll put it in my garage so it is easy to get at.

[URB1960]

I store mine behind my garage on a gravel pad during the winter and the summer. In order to get it back their I need to back it up using my neighbors drive way. Need less to say my backing skills are getting pretty good. I'm lucky to have neighbors that understand.
It's always a sad day to put the PUP away for the winter!

[skipro]

I store mine behind my garage on a gravel pad during the winter and the summer. In order to get it back their I need to back it up using my neighbors drive way. Need less to say my backing skills are getting pretty good. I'm lucky to have neighbors that understand.
It's always a sad day to put the PUP away for the winter!

Yup, put the baby to bed yesterday.   

[HappiKampers!]

Mine is stored for the winter, as well.  However, the good news is, I stripped it of it's canvas prior to putting it away.  The canvas is en route to Bear Creek Canvas, to be used for the pattern for our new canvas!  It will be like having a new popup next spring!  :)

Mike

How much is the canvas setting you back?  How hard was it to remove...and how hard will it be to put back in??  Just wondering...we have a few critter holes in ours that are nicely patched - but still think about replacing it if we keep the PUP for 3 years or more.

[URB1960]

Like I said before, mine is put up for the winter, but with the warm weather we will have this weekend here in Iowa , I just might set it up and sleep in it this weekend!

Dave

[Horseshoot]

Hi HappiKampers!,

The canvas is about $850 for complete replacement.  It was super easy to remove.  I spent about 25 minutes doing it.  I honestly do not think it will be difficult to reinstall.

Mike

How much is the canvas setting you back?  How hard was it to remove...and how hard will it be to put back in??  Just wondering...we have a few critter holes in ours that are nicely patched - but still think about replacing it if we keep the PUP for 3 years or more.
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